HIST 378 Modern Europe Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:30 - 9:20 AM Union College, Fall 2014 DB 214
Professor Benjamin Tyner Email: betyner@ucollege.edu Office: DB 408B, 486-2000 ext. 2324 Office Hours: 10:30 to 1:15PM MWF; and by appointment Becca O'Hare, Faculty Assistant – Email: rlohare92@hotmail.com
Description and Goals:
This course covers the major themes in European politics and culture from 1750 to the 1914. Topics will include: the Enlightenment; the French Revolution; the Industrial Revolutions; Liberalism, Conservatism, and Socialism; Nationalism; Imperialism and Science. We will consider these themes in terms of their political, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual significance. Besides acquaintance with these periods of history, this course will also attempt to prepare students for reading and evaluating academic historical arguments and preparing a research paper.
Grade Weight and Methodology - Writing-Intensive Course (WR):
Tests = 30% (10% x 3)
The tests will cover both assigned readings and in-class content.
Final Exam = 25%
The Final Exam will be based in part on questions from the tests, as well as including novel material and questions.
Paper = 25%
An 15+ page research paper which cites (at least) 2-3 academic books, 2-3 academic articles and some primary sources and takes a position on an issue in modern European history of your choosing. Examples: “What caused the French Revolution?” Or: “sexuality in Victorian England.” Students will submit a paragraph paper proposal and a detailed outline and bibliography before their final paper is due.
Participation = 20%
Coming to class (on time), staying until the end, and participating in discussion.
Additional assignments may be added in this category if needed.
Course Schedule
THIS SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND CAN BE SUPERSEDED BY ANNOUNCEMENT IN CLASS OR BY EMAIL FROM THE PROFESSOR. Part 1: Enlightenment and Revolutions 8/25 - Intro 8/27 - Enlightenment, pt. 1 Read: Hot Air 8/29 - Enlightenment, pt. 2 Read: ME, Ch. 17 9/1 - Labor Day - No Class 9/3 - The French Revolution, pt. 1 Read/Watch:
9/8 - Responses to Revolution, pt. 1 Read: ME, Ch. 20 9/10 - Responses to Revolution, pt. 2 Read: Burke, "Reflections"; Paine, "Rights of Man" 9/12 - Responses to Revolution, pt. 3 Read: Burke, "Reflections"; Paine, "Rights of Man"
Part 1b: Industrial Revolution 9/15- Read: ME, Ch. 20 9/17 - Read: Summary and excerpt from Shelley, "Frankenstein" 9/19 - Read: excerpt from Dickens, "Hard Times"
9/29 - The Nation-State Read: ME, Ch. 22 10/1 - Nation Building, cont. Read: Renan, What is a Nation?; Herzl, On the Jewish State 10/3 - Martyrdom at home and abroad DUE: Paper Topic (one paragraph summary of intended paper topic)
10/13 - Scientism, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche 10/15 - Invention of Heterosexuality Read: Katz, "The Heterosexual Steps Out" 10/17 - Victorian Marriage Read: Coontz, "A Heaving Volcano"
10/20 - World War 1, part 1 Read: ME, Ch. 25 10/22 - World War 1, part 2 Read: ME, Ch. 25 10/24 - The Russian Revolution Read: TBD
10/27 - WW1 catchup 10/29 - The Battleship Potemkin, part 1 (in class & discussion) 10/31 - Part 2
11/3 - Test #2 Exam Review Part 3: 1914-1989 11/5 - Interwar, part 1 Read: ME, Ch. 26 DUE: PAPER OUTLINES, WITH SOURCES 11/7 - Interwar, part 2 Read: ME, Ch. 26 (Notes due)
11/10 - WW2, part 1 Read: ME, Ch. 27 11/13 - Night and Fog Read: None, film in class 11/15 - Holocaust, part 2 Read: Academic Articles on the Holocaust
Ernst Klee - "Turning on the tap was no big deal..." Were the Jews the only group targeted by the Nazis? How did the Nazis develop their extermination methods before the Final Solution even began? How did courts handle all the professionals who worked on these projects?
Omer Bartov - "Interethnic Relations in the Holocaust as Seen Through Postwar Testimonies: Buczacz..." What did the Holocaust look like "on the ground" (in the cities and villages)? How long did the killings take (sometimes)? Is it easy to tell the rescuers and denouncers apart or does it sometimes get complicated? How do people remember the time before the war?
Thomas Kuhne - Male Bonding and Shame Culture Why did the Nazi soldiers kill unarmed civilians? What is the difference, according to the author, between guilt and shame culture? What is an "Apocalyptic War" and how does that change things?
Horwitz, "Places Far Away, Places Very Near" How did the SS try to minimize the effort required of bystanders to simply "look away"? Was it ever completely impossible to not notice the camps? Why are bystanders a necessary part of genocide?
Terrence Des Pres, "Excremental Assault" - not for the faint stomached... What were some of the strategies Nazis used to make it easier to kill? How does "dehumanization" work according to the author? What did people do to resist? 11/17 - Holocaust, part 3 Read: TBD 11/19 - Stalinism, part 1 Read: ME, Ch. 28 11/21 - Stalinism, part 2 Read: TBD
12/1 - Cold War, part 1 Read: ME, Ch. 29 12/3 - Cold War, part 2 Read: TBD 12/5 - Curtain Falls Read: TBD
12/8 - The Present Read: ME, Ch. 30
12/10 - TEST # 3 12/12 - DUE: FINAL PAPERS In my office, by the end of normal class time.
Academic Dishonesty: The faculty and administration of Union College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation to the Academic Dean’s office. Penalties will range from an F on a specific assignment to an F in the entire class. Guideline for writing: If you use someone else’s words or thoughts without giving them credit, this is plagiarism.
Disability Accommodation: Union College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with it, accommodations are not provided without documentation of a disability. It is the responsibility of a student who has a documented disability and desires accommodations to meet with the instructor and a representative of the Teaching Learning Center (486-2506).
Late Papers/Quizzes: All papers and quizzes must be submitted in class. Unexcused late papers or quizzes will be docked 50%-100% depending on the situation.
Fair Use Notice: This syllabus (including Moodle) may contain links and references to copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available for educational purposes only. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to:http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml_. If you wish to use copyrighted material provided by the instructor for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
HIST 378
Modern Europe
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:30 - 9:20 AM
Union College, Fall 2014
DB 214
Professor Benjamin Tyner
Email: betyner@ucollege.edu
Office: DB 408B, 486-2000 ext. 2324
Office Hours: 10:30 to 1:15PM MWF; and by appointment
Becca O'Hare, Faculty Assistant – Email: rlohare92@hotmail.com
Description and Goals:
Grade Weight and Methodology - Writing-Intensive Course (WR):
Course Schedule
THIS SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND CAN BE SUPERSEDED BY ANNOUNCEMENT IN CLASS OR BY EMAIL FROM THE PROFESSOR.Part 1: Enlightenment and Revolutions
8/25 - Intro
8/27 - Enlightenment, pt. 1
Read: Hot Air
8/29 - Enlightenment, pt. 2
Read: ME, Ch. 17
9/1 - Labor Day - No Class
9/3 - The French Revolution, pt. 1
Read/Watch:
9/5 - The French Revolution, pt. 2
Read/Watch:
9/8 - Responses to Revolution, pt. 1
Read: ME, Ch. 20
9/10 - Responses to Revolution, pt. 2
Read: Burke, "Reflections"; Paine, "Rights of Man"
9/12 - Responses to Revolution, pt. 3
Read: Burke, "Reflections"; Paine, "Rights of Man"
Part 1b: Industrial Revolution
9/15 - Read: ME, Ch. 20
9/17 - Read: Summary and excerpt from Shelley, "Frankenstein"
9/19 - Read: excerpt from Dickens, "Hard Times"
9/22 - Test #1
Part 2: 1848-1914
9/24 - Socialism, Romanticism, Realism, cont.
Read: Marx and Engels, Communist Manifesto (preamble); WSU - Romanticism; "Romanticism to Realism"
9/26 - 1848 and Realism
Read: Baudelaire, excerpts and Balzac, Theory of Bearing, excerpts
9/29 - The Nation-State
Read: ME, Ch. 22
10/1 - Nation Building, cont.
Read: Renan, What is a Nation?; Herzl, On the Jewish State
10/3 - Martyrdom at home and abroad
DUE: Paper Topic (one paragraph summary of intended paper topic)
10/6 - Industrial Age Culture
Read: ME, Ch. 23
10/8 - Imperialism
Lenin, Last Stage of Imperialism; Ferry, On French Expansion
10/10 - Midterm Break - No Class
10/13 - Scientism, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche
10/15 - Invention of Heterosexuality
Read: Katz, "The Heterosexual Steps Out"
10/17 - Victorian Marriage
Read: Coontz, "A Heaving Volcano"
10/20 - World War 1, part 1
Read: ME, Ch. 25
10/22 - World War 1, part 2
Read: ME, Ch. 25
10/24 - The Russian Revolution
Read: TBD
10/27 - WW1 catchup
10/29 - The Battleship Potemkin, part 1 (in class & discussion)
10/31 - Part 2
Exam Review
Part 3: 1914-1989
11/5 - Interwar, part 1
Read: ME, Ch. 26
DUE: PAPER OUTLINES, WITH SOURCES
11/7 - Interwar, part 2
Read: ME, Ch. 26 (Notes due)
11/10 - WW2, part 1
Read: ME, Ch. 27
11/13 - Night and Fog
Read: None, film in class
11/15 - Holocaust, part 2
Read: Academic Articles on the Holocaust
Ernst Klee - "Turning on the tap was no big deal..."
Were the Jews the only group targeted by the Nazis? How did the Nazis develop their extermination methods before the Final Solution even began? How did courts handle all the professionals who worked on these projects?
Omer Bartov - "Interethnic Relations in the Holocaust as Seen Through Postwar Testimonies: Buczacz..."
What did the Holocaust look like "on the ground" (in the cities and villages)? How long did the killings take (sometimes)? Is it easy to tell the rescuers and denouncers apart or does it sometimes get complicated? How do people remember the time before the war?
Thomas Kuhne - Male Bonding and Shame Culture
Why did the Nazi soldiers kill unarmed civilians? What is the difference, according to the author, between guilt and shame culture? What is an "Apocalyptic War" and how does that change things?
Horwitz, "Places Far Away, Places Very Near"
How did the SS try to minimize the effort required of bystanders to simply "look away"? Was it ever completely impossible to not notice the camps? Why are bystanders a necessary part of genocide?
Terrence Des Pres, "Excremental Assault" - not for the faint stomached...
What were some of the strategies Nazis used to make it easier to kill? How does "dehumanization" work according to the author? What did people do to resist?
11/17 - Holocaust, part 3
Read: TBD
11/19 - Stalinism, part 1
Read: ME, Ch. 28
11/21 - Stalinism, part 2
Read: TBD
12/1 - Cold War, part 1
Read: ME, Ch. 29
12/3 - Cold War, part 2
Read: TBD
12/5 - Curtain Falls
Read: TBD
12/8 - The Present
Read: ME, Ch. 30
12/10 - TEST # 3
12/12 - DUE: FINAL PAPERS
In my office, by the end of normal class time.
12/17 - WEDNESDAY, FINAL EXAM @ 7:30AM
Final Exam Review Sheet
Policies: